The Children Left Behind (Shilling Grange Children's Home #4) by Lizzie Page
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas
Read: 4th March 2023
Published: 3rd March 2023
★★ 2 stars
DESCRIPTION:
England, 1951. In the aftermath of World War Two, Clara’s orphanage is all these children have left. Can she keep them safe and help them to heal? A heart-warming and emotional story of love and loss.
Clara Newton has dedicated her life to taking care of orphans who have nobody in the world but her. From affectionate Gladys, who desperately misses her older brothers, to traumatised Florrie who longs for her father and refuses to eat, Clara loves each of the children like they are her own.
But even though she has opened her heart to so many little ones, when brown-eyed war hero Ivor asks her to marry him, Clara is afraid to take a chance on love. Would married life prevent her from dedicating herself completely to her orphans?
Clara is soon distracted from the troubles of her heart when her beloved orphanage comes under attack. Someone throws stones through the window, and a threatening message is chalked near the door. Why would anyone want to frighten innocent children? And as the attacks get worse, can Clara keep the orphans safe?
Desperate to protect the little ones in her care, Clara takes the children on a day out. Away from the orphanage, Clara hopes that she and the children will be able to put their worries behind them. But when a terrible accident happens, will they all make it out alive? And will it be too late for Clara to tell Ivor how she really feels?
An utterly tear-jerking, heart-warming and unforgettable historical novel, set in the aftermath of World War Two. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters.
(PREVIOUSLY TITLED: An Orphan’s Hope)
MY THOUGHTS:
I have followed this saga from the beginning. And I so loved it...in the beginning. Children have come and gone, though some remain, and I was really looking forward to this fourth installment. But...I simply couldn't finish it.
Over the course of three books we have followed, not only the children and the comings and goings of all the child officers, but also the blossoming and then defunct relationship between Clara and Ivor. It was clear from the very beginning that they were attracted to each other but for whatever reasons, things got in the way and they went their separate ways.
But still Clara moons over Ivor. She watches for his light to go on or off in his workshop across the street. And she continually berates and second guesses herself about whether he really is interested in her but when push comes to shove she just becomes haughty and slams the door of her heart to him for whatever reason. She did it in the first book, then the second and then hope blooms by the third but instead Ivor returns from his wanderings with a baby daughter in tow and of course Clara jumps to every other conclusion without actually asking him about it. And he's as stubborn as they come, not to mention moody, that any approach seems like one's head would be bitten off. So why bother? I guess Clara felt much the same.
So then we come to book four, and hope against all hope, they are finally going away for a weekend together by the seaside. And despite running late due to yet another child officer turning up unannounced, they actually make it somewhat late to the said seaside. And what romantic things do they have planned? A visit to a boys reform school?? Really? OK, so Clara did appreciate the thought that Ivor put into surprising her with the visit but it's not exactly high on one's list of priorities for a romantic weekend away, is it? So what ensued then? Romance? Candlelit dinners for two? Dancing the night away? Or secluding themselves away in their room for the duration? Well, some of that maybe but then comes a visit to a supposedly quiet beach which turned out to be anything but with squealing children and sand being kicked in one's faces and then...what? A surprise proposition that leaves Clara speechless (for once)...and thus ruins the rest of the said romantic weekend away, therefore both hurriedly returning back to Lavensham not speaking to one another, continuing the silence once they return.
Here we go again! Come on, this is book four! By now, these two grown adults should have gotten their acts together already and quite frankly I was tired of their faffing about and thus had no patience for it. Added to that, baby Patricia was the devil incarnate and Florrie was a moody teen both of which I had no patience for. Gladys gave me a headache with her constant chatter. Little Peg was still there and she is the only one that endeared herself to me. And Clara and Ivor? I want to bash their heads together.
Sorry but after so much preamble getting there, I would have thought (and liked) to see them actually do something constructive and stop this ridiculous dance they have going. Both are moody and unlikeable and I had no patience to put up with any more.
I'm sorry, I was really looking forward to the continuing saga but Clara and Ivor have ruined it for me. I found the whole thing tedious and frustrating. I give it 2 stars because I have enjoyed the series thus far despite rating any book I don't finish with only 1.
I hate leaving negative reviews because I know each book is an author's painstaking hard work and I really do appreciate that. It's just the storyline I couldn't continue with that ruined it for me, otherwise it would be another wonderful read as the others have been.
I would like to thank #LizziePage, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheChildrenLeftBehind in exchange for an honest review.
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MEET THE AUTHOR:
Sam was born in February 1971, in Essex, England. After studying politics at Warwick University, she worked as an English teacher in Paris and then for five years, in Tokyo. She then went to live in London, and had various uninspiring jobs there.
Sam did an MA in creative writing at Goldsmiths and returned to live in Essex a few years ago and have worked in marketing, teaching, assisting, etc ever since.
She loves reading ALL the books, and always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.
She claims her partner Steve, three children and cockapoo all conspire to stop her writing.
Sam lives with her family and dog by the sea in South East England.She enjoys traveling and she's had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling - but being a writer is her absolute favourite.
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